Mr. Durant won 55.5 percent of the vote. He easily won conservative Charlton, 3,024 to 1,922 and newly added Dudley, 2,782 to 2,088. The portion of Spencer in the district also went to Mr. Durant, 910-411.

Mr. Durant, who was celebrating with supporters at Alexander's Golden Greek restaurant in Southbridge, said last night it felt good to win by such a decisive margin in a presidential election.

In 2010, Mr. Durant finished tied with Geraldo Alicea of Charlton and defeated Mr. Alicea and two independent candidates in a special election in May 2011.

Ms. Walker said: “I'm very disappointed, but at the same time I had a wonderful time throughout the campaign. I met some wonderful people who will be friends for life. I'm enriched by the whole thing.”

Earlier in the day, Mr. Durant had a team of 40 volunteers, compared to six volunteers when he first ran in 2010. He had his team observing at the polls and placing calls to people who had yet to vote in Southbridge.

Mr. Durant said he considered Southbridge the battleground community because of its Democratic tilt.

He said he made 3,000 calls yesterday and more than 12,500 during the campaign.

Lisa Betrovski of Charlton held a sign for Mr. Durant in Charlton.

Ms. Betrovski said she first met Mr. Durant in 2010, when he first ran for the seat and knocked on her door. She said she found he had similar principles and values.

The stay-at-home mother said she was in Manchester, N.H., the night before, supporting Mitt Romney for president.

“I'm afraid the way the country is going,” she said.

Roger Caouette held a sign for Mr. Durant in Southbridge

“We needed a change and somebody to do something for our area. He's the man that's done the job. He proved himself after the (2011) tornado,” Mr. Caouette said.

The supporter said the district had experienced one-sided politics years ago when the state threatened to pull the Registry of Motor Vehicles from Southbridge.

“I said never again will I vote for a Democrat,” Mr. Caouette said.

As she campaigned in Charlton, Ms. Walker said she learned from the campaign that people are “enormously kind and generous,” and that the whole process was so energizing she didn't know if she was tired.

Ms. Walker said she and Mr. Durant were vastly different in their philosophies and views.

Told that to some observers it appeared they didn't like one another, Ms. Walker said, “I couldn't possibly say I didn't like him because I really don't know him.

“I don't like what he does, what he's done in his campaign and what he's said.”